Msa Technology, LLC

Mine Safety Appliances Company

Michael Alvin Brown

Towner Bennett Scheffler

Brian Keith Davis

Meghan E Swanson

Daniel D Santoro, Jr

Mark Flori Zanella, Sr

Andrew E Nalepa

Ryan Alan Sherry

Jeff Audia

Gregory L Martin

Christopher S Detka

Towner Bennet Scheffler

Mark Flori Zanella

Mark Fiori Zanella, Sr

Jerin Miller

Daniel D Santoro

A method of operating a gas sensor for a gas analyte including a sensing component includes, in a first mode, interrogating the sensor by periodically applying an electrical signal to the sensing component of the sensor, measuring sensor response to the electrical signal which is indicative of a sensitivity of the sensor each time the electrical signal is applied to the sensing component, determining whether one or more thresholds have been exceeded based upon the sensor response determined each time the electrical signal is applied to the sensing component, and entering a second mode, different from the first mode in analysis of the sensor response to the periodically applied electrical signals, if one or more thresholds are exceeded.

Determination of sensor operational status via sensor interrogation

A gas sensor device includes a sensing element including a heating element and electronic circuitry in connection with the heating element. The sensing element forms a resistive element in a circuit of the electronic circuitry. The electronic circuity operates the sensing element in a trigger mode via a pulsed energy input to the heating element at a first duty cycle and in a primary mode via a pulsed energy input to the heating element at a second duty cycle, which is greater than the first duty cycle. The electronic circuitry is further configured to measure a response of the sensing element over time during each pulse of a plurality of pulses of the pulsed energy input. The primary mode is entered upon measurement of a value of a response at or above a threshold value in the trigger mode of operation.

Operation of combustible gas sensor in a dynamic mode with a constant resistance setpoint

A method of operating a sensor system including at least one sensor for detecting an analyte gas and a control system includes electronically interrogating the sensor to determine the operational status thereof and upon determining that the operational status is non-conforming based upon one or more predetermined thresholds, the control system initiating an automated calibration of the sensor with the analyte gas or a simulant gas.

Sensor interrogation

A system for detecting an analyte gas in an environment includes a first gas sensor, a first contaminant sensor separate and spaced from the first gas sensor, and electronic circuitry in electrical connection with the first gas sensor to determine if the analyte gas is present based on a response of the first gas sensor. The electronic circuitry is further in electrical connection with the first contaminant sensor to measure a response of the first contaminant sensor over time. The measured response of the first contaminant sensor varies with an amount of one or more contaminants to which the system has been exposed in the environment over time.

Gas sensor with separate contaminant detection element

A combustible gas sensor for detecting an analyte gas includes a first element including a first electric heating element, a first support structure on the first electric heating element and a first catalyst supported on the first support structure and electronic circuitry in electrical connection with the first element. The electronic circuitry is configured to provide energy to the first element to heat the first element to at least a first temperature at which the first catalyst catalyzes combustion of the analyte gas and to determine if the analyte gas is present based on a response of the first element to being heated to at least the first temperature. The electronic circuitry is further configured to apply an interrogation pulse to the first element in which energy to the first element is increased or decreased to induce an associated response from the first element.

Dynamic comparative diagnostics for catalytic structures and combustible gas sensors including catalytic structures

A method of operating a sensor system including at least one sensor to detect a first gas analyte and a control system includes electronically interrogating the sensor to determine the operational status thereof and, based upon the results of the electronic interrogation, the control system initiating an automated maintenance procedure for the sensor.

A system includes a system housing including an inlet, at least one gas sensor responsive to a first analyte gas other than oxygen within the system housing and in fluid connection with the inlet, and a sensor responsive to oxygen within the system housing and in fluid connection with the inlet. The sensor responsive to oxygen is formed to be chemically separate from the at least one gas sensor responsive to the first analyte gas other than oxygen. The sensor responsive to oxygen is responsive to a change in the concentration of oxygen arising from creation of a driving force in the vicinity of the inlet to provide an indication of a state of a transport path between the inlet of the system and the at least one gas sensor responsive to the first analyte gas other than oxygen.

A method of operating a sensing element including a heating element in operative connection with electronic circuitry, wherein the sensing element forms a resistive element in a circuit of the electronic circuitry, includes, in at least a first phase, activating the electronic circuitry to heat the sensing element to a temperature at which the sensing element is responsive to an analyte gas via energy input to the heating element in a pulsed manner. A constant resistance setpoint is set for the sensing element and energy through the circuit is variably controlled via the pulsed energy input toward achieving the constant resistance setpoint. The method further includes measuring a response of the sensing element over time to the pulsed energy input.

A sensor system for detecting mass deposition from a gaseous environment includes a first sensor element including a first electrically conductive heating component and a first interface structure on the first electrically conductive heating component. The sensor system further includes electronic circuitry in connection with the first electrically conductive heating component. The electronic circuitry is configured to provide energy to the first electrically conductive heating component to heat the first sensor element and to measure a thermodynamic response of the first sensor element, which varies with mass deposition of one or more compositions on the first interface structure.

Sensor for compositions which deposit upon a surface from a gaseous matrix

An electrochemical gas sensor includes a sensor housing having a plurality of inlet passages, wherein each of the plurality of inlet passages has a cross-sectional area of no greater than 11,309 &#x3bc;m. The electrochemical gas sensor further includes a working electrode within the housing which is responsive to an analyte gas and an electrolyte within the sensor housing in ionic contact with the working electrode.

Sensor with multiple inlets

A system includes a primary combustible gas sensor and a trigger combustible gas sensor including a first trigger element of low-thermal-mass which includes a first trigger heating element in operative connection with electronic circuitry. The trigger combustible gas sensor also includes a second trigger element of low thermal mass including a second trigger heating element. The second trigger element is also in operative connection with the electronic circuitry. The electronic circuitry further has a first trigger mode of operating in which the first trigger element is heated to a temperature at or above a temperature at which the first trigger element causes combustion of the at least one combustible gas analyte and wherein the second trigger element is operated as a trigger compensating element. The electronic circuitry is configured to operate the trigger combustible gas sensor to detect a value of a response at or above a threshold value. The primary combustible gas sensor is activated from a low-power state upon the threshold value being detected by the trigger combustible gas sensor.

Growing community of inventors

Cranberry Township, PA, United States of America

Michael Alvin Brown